MY BEAUTIFUL WALLPAPER TESTS!

Before I could make my final decision, I had to satisfy my curiosity. Just how close is this Voigtlander 28 Ultron to the Leica 28 Summicron? At this point, I was liking the Summicron. I mean, it really had no flaws, it was just an extra $2,000!

So, I set up my tripod and took a shot of this ugly-ass wallpaper (that my wife keeps telling me to remove) using each lens at each aperture. This will show me how sharp each lens is as well as fall off and corner performance. I decided to just put up the crops from each lens at F2 and F8 because F8 is where the Ultron starts to match the Summicron.

LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Now the Voigtlander Ultron at F2 - Lens was coded and had a UV/IR filter o.

LETS SKIP TO F8...

Once again, the Voigtlander Ultron. This time at F8.

So, there you go. At F2, the Leica Summicron is the clear winner. While showing some fall off itself, the Ultron is much worse in this area. With the Ultron, you have the ultra-soft corners AND the fall off. From F2.8 to F8, the Ultron keeps the soft, darker corners. Here are the F4 crops:

So, what did I decide to do? Did I keep the Leica Summicron or the Voigtlander Ultron? Well, seeing that the Summicron is the better performer (it better be at its price tag of $4,000!) and is basically like money in the bank, meaning if I ever had to sell it I could get what I paid for it if I keep it mint, I have decided to keep the Leica.

I really can not fault the 28 Summicron at all. Sure, you may get some CA if the conditions are there and yes it’s not PERFECTLY sharp in the corners at F2, but I wouldn't want it to be. Both lenses have tons of character and if you are someone who loves a classic rendering, then you would LOVE the Ultron. If you are looking for the best sharpness and color, then the Summicron is the one to beat in a 28.

The little Ultron is really a great lens for the price and if it was all I had to choose from, I would be happy with it without a doubt. It’s just when I used it side-by-side with the Leica, its faults bothered me more than they should have. Still, I do slightly prefer the Ultron for people shots as it renders in a soft, pastel, classical way.

If you are interested in the Voigtlander Ultron, you can buy this lens at B&H Photo. You can see the lens and all the tech info on it at that page. B&H is the best online store for camera gear. FAST service, GREAT return policy and the best customer service I have ever experienced. If you buy yours there, you are helping me to continue this site, so I thank you. To check out the Summicron at B&H, click here.

WANT MORE? CLICK HERE FOR PAGE 5 TO SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THESE TWO LENSES! ---->